Chapter 12

State of and Pollution of the River

Issues

Hathanikund Barrage about 240 Km upstream of , regulates flow of water and is also the point where most water in the river gets diverted through Western canal and Eastern Yamuna canal. Additionally there are cities of Yamuna Nagar, , Sonepat, , Kundali and Barhi which not only release domestic sewage through various drains but also industrial effluent. drain which originates in Haryana also carries domestic sewage and industrial effluent of Gurugram and industrial clusters in Bahadurgarh.

The directions of NGT pertaining to Haryana not pertain to but refer to; i. Release of minimum E flow of 10 cumecs from Hathanikund ii. Setting up of STPs and CETPs in all cities and industrial clusters located on the bank of the river and online linking with HPCB and CPCB and closure of industries not complying with standards and not connected to CETPs. iii. Blocking the drain under Leg I of Najafgarh basin joining the drain iv. Setting up CETPs and STPs in Leg II area of Gurugram joining drain Najafgarh drain v. Setting up STP at drain before it joins Najafgarh drain

Present Status:

As per MS, UYRB state of Haryana is releasing 10 cumecs of water in the river at Hathanikund barrage. As regard pollution caused by the industries located in Yamuna Nagar, Karnal and Sonepat the MC has received no information from the state. No information has also been received about the action taken by the State to set up CETPs and STPs on Leg 1, Leg 2 and Badshahpur drain which join Najafgarh drain before it enters Delhi. Despite three letters and telephonic requests to the state of Haryana through the Chief Secretary, the MC has not received any status report which the State was required to submit to the MC within four weeks of July 26, 2018. The representation of the state in the review meeting called by the MC has been at very junior level and the Departments responsible for setting up STPs and CETPs have not been represented. The review meeting called by the MC have therefore proved infructuous. Though the state has constituted state specific MC on 23rd August, the MC has yet to become functional.

Action plan:

1. A lackadaisical approach that the state has followed in far has been brought to the notice of the Chief Secretary, who has now informed that he will personally attend the meeting called by MC or depute senior officers of the Department responsible for setting up STPs and CETPs in the state. Action taken by the state in compliance of the directions given in orders dated 11-06-2015, 28-07-2015, and dated 08- 08-2017 of NGT will be monitored in October/November. 2. MC will also undertake field visit to apprise itself of the status of drains carrying sewage/Industrial effluent from the Cities of Yamuna Nagar, Karnal, Sonepat and Panipat which eventually join Yamuna, the steps taken by the state so far for setting up STPs and CETPs and proposals to set up new STPs and CETPs. 3. Field visit will also be undertaken to the monitor status of work relating to setting up STPs and CETPs under Leg 1, Leg 2 and Badshahpur drain which join Najafgarh drain before it enters Delhi. 4. Monthly monitoring of flow and quality of waste water in Najafgarh at the point of entry in Delhi will be monitored through DPCC and CPCB. 5. CPCB and HPCB will also be directed to carry out inspections of STPs and CETPs and stand-alone ETPs of big industries and submit report and issue directions, if so warranted 6. Preparation of an Action Plan for water conservation measures, increasing water use efficiency of agriculture and creating ponds and reservoirs on the floodplains will be pursued with the state and progress reported to NGT and taken up with Principal Committee for supporting a study, if warranted.

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